Hunger Games: Catching Fire {Movie Review}

I would like to start off this review by saying that I am a huge fan of the Hunger Games books. I read each of the three books (Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay) in less than a day apiece because I just cannot put them down. Then I watched the first Hunger Games movie twice. In the cinema.

The reason I’m starting off with this disclaimer is because people who have read the book first will have a different view of the movie compared to those who have not. I know this because I’ve gotten a lot of “How can you love a movie that glorifies killing kids??” from people who usually haven’t read the book. Err… you missed the point of the story, which was the exact opposite of that. Go read the books or talk to someone else, please. rant over

Moving on… Here is the Catching Fire synopsis:

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire begins as Katniss Everdeen has returned home safe after winning the 74th Annual Hunger Games along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark. Winning means that they must turn around and leave their family and close friends, embarking on a “Victor’s Tour” of the districts. Along the way Katniss senses that a rebellion is simmering, but the Capitol is still very much in control as President Snow prepares the 75th Annual Hunger Games (The Quarter Quell) – a competition that could change Panem forever. {Source: Rotten Tomatoes}

Of course movies can never capture the entire book, but this one did a better job than the first movie, I think, in keeping the parts that mattered. However I purposely did not reread the book and the last time I reread it was last year after I saw the movie (which I am planning to do again this time around), so I might have missed something. Still, you’re not supposed to compare the book to the movie, right? And as a movie, I think this was a great one.

There was a lot of action, not so much laughter. Mostly it was heartbreaking. I cried a lot of times, maybe 5, 6? But I easily cry, so that’s just me. My friend did say she cried too, but probably just in one scene. So bring tissues, just to be on the safe side.

My only gripe, though, which I only realized later after my friend (who had not read the books) asked a bunch of questions, is that Peeta is once again misrepresented in this film, just like in the first one. Book Peeta was awesome. Movie Peeta is an expressionless wuss of a guy whom people are not gonna root for. I guess I was blinded by this because in my mind, Peeta will always be book Peeta, the one who, as Haymiss said (which was also said in the movie, yay!): “You could live a hundred lifetimes and not deserve him.” Movie Peeta doesn’t deserve this line, maybe. But book Peeta does.

Other random observations:

Excellent choice for Finnick! How cute is this guy?

And how beautiful is this wedding dress? I loved how they styled and made up Katniss throughout the film. Her cheeks were always contoured or sculpted. And JLaw, as usual, was really good in acting. She’s currently my most favorite actress ever, not just for her acting skills but her quirky personality in real life too.

So overall, it was a great movie, and I can’t wait for the third one! (I hope they don’t break it down into two movies which seems to be the trend these days?)